When God, the devil, and a friendly cannibal met at sea: A study of early American shipwrecks

This dissertation examines early American shipwreck narratives in relation to North American society and culture. I focus on the actual process of shipwreck and its immediate aftermath as survivors reacted to the event. Contrary to anecdotal evidence, my research suggests that during this moment of crisis, societal norms actually strengthened and solidified as passengers and crew maintained positions that each understood and that were necessary for survival. And yet, in the wake of this event traditional roles could broaden to allow new outlets of acceptable behavior as survivors adapted to ever-changing circumstances. In studying shipwreck events I utilized several sources including account books, street literature, ships' logs, and newspapers as well as official records such as government documents and insurance papers. This research expands traditional historical analysis by examining a neglected set of data and provides the first systematic study of shipwrecks that places these events within the larger context of North American history.